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Perioral wrinkles: histologic differences between men and women
Emma C Paes1, Hans J L J M Teepen, Willemijn A Koop
1Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, University Medical Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Aesthetic Surgery Journal
|December 1, 2009
Summary
Women develop more perioral wrinkles than men due to differences in skin structure. This study found women have fewer skin appendages, explaining their increased susceptibility to wrinkles around the mouth.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Skin Aging Research
- Gender-Specific Biology
Background:
- Women exhibit more pronounced perioral wrinkles compared to men.
- Existing research on skin aging has incidentally noted gender differences but not focused on the perioral region.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate gender-specific variations in the skin of the perioral region.
- To identify potential reasons for differing wrinkle development between genders in this area.
Main Methods:
- Analyzed 3D skin surface replicas of the upper lip from 10 male and 10 female cadavers to assess wrinkle severity.
- Conducted blinded histologic examination of full-thickness lip resections from 30 cadavers.
- Utilized the dermaTOP blue system for surface analysis and statistical regression models for data analysis.
Main Results:
- Female perioral skin showed significantly more and deeper wrinkles than male skin (P < .01).
- Male perioral skin had a higher density of sebaceous glands (P = .000) and sweat glands (P = .002).
- Men displayed a greater ratio of vessel area to connective tissue in the dermis (P = .009) and more sebaceous glands per hair follicle (P = .002).
Conclusions:
- Women have more severe perioral wrinkles, potentially linked to fewer skin appendages.
- The reduced number of skin appendages in women's perioral skin may explain their higher susceptibility to wrinkle formation.
- Histologic and surface analyses reveal distinct gender-based characteristics of perioral skin relevant to aging.
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